New Orleans Homeland Security Director hit by hiring freeze at crucial time

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold says there are three vacancies in the department he believes are important to fill as soon as possible.

One of these positions he specifies as the “volunteer coordinator.”

According to Nola.gov, where the position is listed, those in this position recruit, manage, and deploy volunteers to provide support before, during and after disaster.

“It’s budgeted. We’ve yet to be given approval to hire for that position and as we are in the middle of hurricane season, it’s creating a burden on the existing staff in our office to cover those vacancies,” Arnold said.

When asked by Councilman Green as to why he hasn’t filled these positions yet, Arnold said that he was told by the Cantrell administration that these positions are budgeted vacancies that cannot be filled at the time.

“I’m being told that we have a hiring freeze,” Arnold said.

This news was surprising to the council, including green, who was unaware of this freeze.

“Oh come on. They’re telling you there’s a hiring freeze in the middle of hurricane season?” Green asked.

“I need this position, and I don’t want to make a huge deal out of it, but that’s where we’re at right now,” Arnold said.

Arnold says the coordinator role has been vacant since the beginning of the year and pays about $60,000 a year.

He says the hiring freeze began a few months ago, before hurricane season.

“I don’t know why there’s confusion as to whether or not we have or don’t have enough money to meet the city’s needs, certainly a position of emergency preparedness,” Green said.

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